Understanding the deep sea is key to a sustainable blue economy
A multi-disciplinary group of European researchers spanning natural science, socio-economics and law have joined forces to assess the current landscape of deep-sea research and investment in Europe. Once considered remote and inaccessible, commercial interest to exploit the deep sea is rising due to economic drivers and technology developments. However, exploitation activities in the deep sea remain highly contentious, particularly regarding the potential risks and environmental impacts associated with such activities. A consultation of deep-sea stakeholders spanning academia, industry and NGOs has identified deficiencies in basic knowledge of deep-sea systems which, if not addressed, could hinder ecosystem-based management of the deep sea and in turn limit the sustainability of the emerging deep blue economy.